Grain-car door



Sept. 12, 1939. c. FLAGSTAD 2,172,373

' GRAIN-CAR DOOR Filed May 19, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR (emu-'41.. F1. 65TAD ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1939. FLAGSTAD 2,172,373

GRAIN-CAR DOOR Filed May 19, 1938 2 SheetsSheet 2 V IN VENT OR CGBNELL FLA6$TAD A TTORN Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES GRAIN-CAR DOOR Cornell Flagstad, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application May 19', 1938, Serial No. 208,791

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in doors or closures for grain cars.

Grain cars as now commonly used on the railroads for the transport of grain are provided with doors, or doorways, in their sides which it is, of course, necessary to close in order to retain the grain in the cars. The type of closure used for this purpose must be of such nature that the doorway may be opened up in progressive stages, starting first at the top, and so that the grain may only be allowed to escape in small quantities such as can be accommodated by the receptacle or truck into which the car is being unloaded. For this purpose, the door opening has heretofore been simply boarded up by placing common boards horizontally across the inner side of the opening and nailing them in place to the vertical posts or margins of the opening, and to then open the car it has been necessary to tear, or 29 knock, these boards loose as required. However, this operation has several disadvantages, chief of which is the fact that it is very difficult to reach the inner sides of the boards for withdrawing the nails and the boards are thus very frequently split and rendered unfit for further use. Also, it is necessary in this sort of arrangement to withdraw all of the nails holding each board before it may be removed, and this further tends to increase the work required and the tendency of the boards to split.

Having in mind the foregoing facts, it is the primary object of my invention to provide closures for a grain car door opening, or doorways as they will be hereinafter termed, which are extremely durable in construction and so arranged that they may be secured to the door frames to fully and tightly close the doorways, but in such manner that they may be readily removed when desired.

Another object is to provide closure means for the doorways of grain cars and which comprise several units or boards of such length as to span the doorways when placed horizontally there- 45 over, and which have notches cut in their ends to receive the nails for fastening them to the vertical sideposts of the door. These notches are provided in pairs in each end of the boards, and are so cut that they open through the opposite upper and lower margins of the board and, as a result, the boards may be removed simply by withdrawing the upper nails and then wedging or, prying the boards clear of the lower nails. The upper nails are, of course, readily reached over the upper edges. of the. boards, and thus iii the operation of removing the boards is greatly facilitated.

Another object is to provide closure means of this kind in which the boards or panels are of special two ply or double thickness cleated construction, with the grain of the various parts arranged to prevent splitting, and with the nail notches protected by metal plates to prevent wear or splitting. The durability of'the boards is thus increased very materially, and frequent y replacements will no longer be necessary. I

The foregoing and other objects, together with means whereby the same may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following detailed specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an inside elevation of a portion of the 7 side of a grain car, showing the doorway therein and with two of my improved closure boards therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, vertical section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one end portion of my closure board.

Fig. 4 is a similar perspective view of a closure board employing notched metal plates as the fastening means. I

Fig. 5 is a similar view, showing one section or ply of the closure board extended endwise and notched to receive the fastening nails.

Fig. 6 is a similar View, but showing one 'ply' of the board cut away at the corners to expose the notched corners of the other ply of the board.

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the board recessed around the fastening notches.

Referring now more particularly, and by reference characters, to the drawings, A designates the side of a grain car having the doorway B therein defined by the vertical margins or posts 0. My improved closure means for the doorway B comprises the boards or panels designated generally at D and which'are, of course, used in any number required to close the doorway up to the desired height above the floor E of the car.

As shown in Figs. 1 through 3, these closure boards D are of elongated rectangular form, and of such length as to span the doorway B and actually extend entirely across the inner vertical faces of the posts C. The end portions of the boards are each provided with notches I i} and H which open through the upper and lower margins, respectively, of the boards, and which are so located that they will fall in alignment with the posts C to receive the fastening nails I2, which are passed through the notches and driven into the posts to retain the boards in place. In closing up the doorway, as the car is being filled, a board is first set on edge on the fioor E against the posts C, and is nailed by four nails I2 extended through the notches I and II in each end. As the loading progresses, the doorway is further closed by placing additional boards on edge atop those already fastened, and in each case inserting the four nails. The doorway may thus be tightly closed to any height desired.

To unload the car, the uppermost board Dis first removed, and it is here that the advantages and purposes of the notches I0 and II make themselves manifest. To remove the board, instead of simply knocking it loose and splitting it, as has heretofore been done, the upper two nails I2 are withdrawn from the notches I0 and the board is wedged or pryed upwardly so that the notches II will clear the lower nails, and the board may then be readily removed. It is, of course, perfectly possible to get at these upper nails since they are located at, or above, the level of the grain in the car, and since it is not necessary to remove the lower nails also, the board may be removed without any danger whatever of its being split. In Fig. 1 the uppermost board D is shown as in process ofbeing wedged upwardly, and it has cleared one lower nail. The major importance and advantageous feature of the notches I0 and I I thus lies in the fact that the upper nails I2, while locking the boards in place, may be readily reached for removing the boards while the lower nails which, of course, cannot be reached at all while the grain stands above their level, actually need not be removed until the grain has been unloaded down to the level of the next board below.

The nails I2 are preferably of the doubleheaded type shown having rigid stops I3 formed on their shanks so that, when driven tight, the heads I4 will stand outwardly from the boards some distance so that the claws of a hammer (not shown) may be readily engaged with the nails for withdrawing them.

The boards D are preferably of two-ply laminated or double thickness construction comprising inner and outer plies orsections I5 and I6 nailed or otherwise suitably secured together, as indicated at IT, with the grain of the wood running lengthwise of the board. At each end of the board one ply or section, preferably the inner one I5, is cut short and the board is filled out by a narrow cleat I8 which is nailed in place as at I9 and has its grain running crosswise to the board. The danger of splitting around the notches III and II is thus reduced, and the durability of the boards is greatly increased, as will be readily evident. To further protect the boards around the notches I0 and II, I provide small metal plates or shields which are nailed or secured at 2| to the inner sides of the boards, and which have notches 22 arranged in registry with the notches I0 and II. The nails I2 may thus 'be driven home against these shields with out marring or splitting the wood. It will be noted that the notches l0 and II are not cut in alignment vertically, but are slightly oifset in order to further aid in preventing splitting.

The notches III and II in both upper and lower edges of the boards permit the boards to be reversed, or used with either edge down, as will be readily understood. However, the upper notches may be dispensed with, if so desired, and in lieu thereof the boards may be simply provided with nail holes for the upper nails but in this case it will be necessary for the workman to properly place the boards with the notched edges down so that they will clear the nails. It will be noted also, that the pressure of the grain within the car serves to press'the boards against the door posts so that the nails actually need do no more than hold the boards in proper vertical position upon the posts.

In lieu of the cutting of the notches I0 and II directly in the boards D, I may form these notches in metal plates or brackets 23 (Fig. 4), which are then nailed or otherwise secured at 24 to the outer sides of the boards. In this case the boards ,are, of course, somewhat shorter than heretofore described so that the plates 23 will line up with the door posts C to receive the fastening nails by which the boards are fastened. This construction, as well as others to be described, has the advantage that the nails I2 will not project inwardly beyond the inner face of the boards but will, nevertheless, be so positioned that they may be readily engaged for withdrawing them from the door posts. The board D is here again made of inner and outer plies I5 and I6, and with the cleat IB at one end as previously set forth.

In Fig. 5 the outer ply or section I 6 of'the board D is shown as extended endwise beyond the inner ply I5 and cleat I8, and cut away marginally or narrowed, as at 25. The extended ends of the outer ply, only one of which is shown and indicated at 26, are then provided with the notches I0 and II in their upper and lower ends, and with the shield plates 20 secured thereover to protect the wood around the notches.

In Fig. 6 the cleat I8 is arranged at the outer side of, the board D at the end of the outer ply I6, and the notches I0 and II are cut in the upper and. lower edges of the cleat. The inner ply I5 of the board is then cut away at the corners at 21 to expose the notches Ill and II, and a substantial cornerarea of the cleat. The notches I0 and II are here again protected by the shield plates 20.

In Fig. '7, the construction is quitesimilar to that shown in Fig. 3, and the arrangement of the inner and outer plies I5 and I6 and cleat I8 of the board D is identical. The notches I0 and II are cut in. the upper and lower margins entirely through the ply I6 and cleat I8, but in this case the inner face of the cleatis recessed, as at 28, around the notches, and the shields 20' are located in these recesses.

The foregoing assemblies, shown in Figs. 4 through 7, all are used in the same manner as hereinbefore set out, but have the advantage that the nails I2 will not extend inwardly beyond the inner faces of the boards. Also these modifications illustrate several of the ways in which my invention may be. made up so as to provide durable and practical boards for the purpose in mind. These, and such other modifications of. the invention as may be found desirable, are considered to be within the scope of my invention, and it is understood that I may make variations from the structure shown,'so long as such variations lie within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: a

1. Closure means for a. grain car doorway including spaced door posts and comprising, a board adapted to set on edge across the door- Way, the said board having notches adjacent its opposite ends, and fasteners driven through the notches and into the door posts, said notches opening downwardly through the lower edge of the board to permit upward removal movement of the board from the fasteners without removing the latter from the door posts.

2. In a closure for spanning the vertical margins of a grain car doorway, a. closure board having notches opening through its opposite upper and lower edges and adapted to set on edge across the doorway, and fasteners removably mounted through the said notches into the margins of the door.

3. In a closure for spanning the vertical margins of a grain car doorway, a closure board set on edge across the doorway, fasteners driven through the end portions of. the board into the margins of the doorway, and the said board hav-- ing notches opening through its lower edge for receiving certain of the said fasteners, whereby these fasteners will clear through the notches when vertically removing the board from the door and after the other fasteners have first been removed.

4. In a closure for a grain car doorway, a board adapted to span the doorway and set on edge horizontally across the same, the said board being nailed adjacent its upper and lower edges to the vertical margins of the doorway, and having notches opening through its lower edges for receiving the lower nails to permit upward removal of the board therefrom without removing the lower nails.

5. A closure device for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to set on edge across the vertical margins of the doorway, the said board having notched members at its ends for receiving nails by which the board is fastened to the margins of the door, and the said notches opening through the upper and lower edgesof the board.

6. A closure device for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to span the doorway and set on, edge across the margins thereof, the

said board having a pair of oppositely extended notches in each end opening through its upper and lower edges and for receiving nails driven into the margins of the doorway, and metal shields secured to the face of the board over the notches, the said shields having notches registering with the notches in the board.

'7. A closure for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to set on edge against the inner sides of the doorway, and notched plates extended endwise from, the outer side of the board for receiving nails driven into the sides of the doorway, the notches in the plates opening oppositely through the upper and lower margins of the plates.

8. A closure for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to rest on edge across the inner side of the doorway, the said board having inner and outer plies, and the outer ply including extended end portions having notches in its upper and lower edges for receiving nails driven into the marginsof the doorway.

9. A closure for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to rest on edge across the inner side of. the doorway, the said board having inner and outer plies, the outer ply having notches in its upper and lower edges for the reception of nails driven into the margins of the doorway, and the inner ply having its corners cut away to expose the notched portions of the outer p y- 10. A closure for a grain car doorway, comprising a board adapted to rest on edge across the inner side of the car spanning the said doorway, the said board having notches opening through its upper and lower edges for the reception of nails driven into the inner side of the car alongside the doorway, and the said board also having recesses formed in its inner face around the notches.

11. A closure for a grain car doorway frame comprising a board extended across the door opening and having notches adjacent its opposite ends, opening through the lower edge of the board to receive nails driven intothe doorway frame whereby said nails will prevent movement of the board in all directions except upwardly, and releasable means, independent of said nails, for fastening the board to the frame and to prevent such upward movement until released.

12. In a closure for a grain car doorway, a board adapted to span the doorway and set on edge horizontally across the same, the said board being nailed adjacent its upper and lower edges to the vertical margins of the doorway, and hav-' ing notches opening through its lower edges for receiving the lower nails. to permit upward removal of the board therefrom without removing the lower nails, said board having corner portions, adjacent said notches, cut away.

CORNELL FLAGSTAD. 

